one hen not laying

[sd38-2]

I have 4 isa browns, all have been laying since January 2017. I have one I call my problem layer, she would often lay huge double yolk eggs, lay soft shell eggs often, she went egg bound once, and layed a weird conjoined egg. She went egg bound in april, I got her to pass it but she took a few days off of laying after being egg bound. She layed till mid may and layed a big egg followed by a soft egg. She was in alot of pain trying to lay the soft egg. She stopped laying for a couple week after that. In early June she layed two normal eggs two day in a row and then had issues with laying a soft bloody egg. It's now June 22 and she hasn't layed an egg in a few weeks. She is on a layed feed since she started laying, has access to oyster shell too. She acts and eats normal. By looking at her she is a normal chicken with no problems. She isn't broody. I'm just not sure if this is normal or if something is wrong.

 

[firestomp]

I have 4 isa browns, all have been laying since January 2017. I have one I call my problem layer, she would often lay huge double yolk eggs, lay soft shell eggs often, she went egg bound once, and layed a weird conjoined egg. She went egg bound in april, I got her to pass it but she took a few days off of laying after being egg bound. She layed till mid may and layed a big egg followed by a soft egg. She was in alot of pain trying to lay the soft egg. She stopped laying for a couple week after that. In early June she layed two normal eggs two day in a row and then had issues with laying a soft bloody egg. It's now June 22 and she hasn't layed an egg in a few weeks. She is on a layed feed since she started laying, has access to oyster shell too. She acts and eats normal. By looking at her she is a normal chicken with no problems. She isn't broody. I'm just not sure if this is normal or if something is wrong.

Dang, this poor girl has been through the mill, I don't know this breed but seems like an awful lot of issues for one hen. Maybe something has triggered a shutdown in her body, like an injury to the egg factory area. She would be better off not laying from the sound of it, maybe she is starting a molt or it could even be a high heat thing. I personally think she has a flawed egg system for that many issues and (this is just me now) and would put her down to save from anymore suffering from these giant eggs that she can't handle. Sometimes, things just aren't right in the body with any species, including man.

 

[azygous]

This is common in hens that display so many egg laying issues over a period. The end result is what you're seeing. This is what's happened with every one of my problem layers.

If your hen is in otherwise good health, and you're okay with keeping a non-laying hen around, consider she's taking early retirement after a short but very tough career.

 

[sd38-2]

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep an eye on her in case she starts laying again and has issues. Shes a good hen but tonight as I grill dinner on my porch she is chatting up a storm while eating fresh green I grew for the chickens in my garden. If she's done laying and stays in good health I'll keep her around till the other 3 quit laying.